Thursday, March 23, 2006

Security of Mobile Phones -- Chennai Perspective

Security of Mobile Phones -- Chennai Perspective

Of late, mobile phone theft has been seeing an upward curve particularly in India. The inclination and the acuteness of the incident had been to GSM technology cells since these do not have a tigher security infrastructure in place and the lifter can throw off the embedded SIM card and push a new prepaid SIMCard and start talking off. Catalysing it is the callous attitude of the wireless and cellular networks that do not emphasize on a proper documentation other than, if I am right, the state-owned BSNL. While these networks focus on increasing the number of subscribers and adding congestion to the communication line, least they concenterate on the ethical use of mobiles.

Actually, one of my friend had to lose his GSM mobile that way yesterday and hence I thought, I would have a writeup for the benefit of other readers.

Some of the tips mentioned here may apply for Chennai/India region only If the reader finds a common thing for other part of the world as an extension, please feel free to share the same as a comment for the benefit of other readers as well.

With these in place, there are a few guidelines that can be adopted.

Have the mobile attached to a firm neckrope. That is more safer than having it loose in the pockets. Even the mobile pouch fails to secure the desired advantage since in crowdy buses (a typical situation in Chennai) the pocket picker finds it easy to rip you off your favorite mobile while you clutch the support and manage to stand in the crowd. The pouches are good as long as you have own conveyance but not when you depend on public conveyance route. Whether one wants the security of your mobile or only a pompous show off as a costly pouch case is purely a personal decision/compromise to make.

Have the IMEI number handy in your wallet. IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. While Indian wireless networks are still not geared in any way, in a confirmed fashion, to deactivate a mobile completely with a IMEI, a relatively secure way of tracking the use of stolen mobiles have been reported by Chennai Cybercrime Police.

With an IMEI number, strongly refrain from storing the same in your mobile inbox. You can get your mobile IMEI number by using *#06#. This applies to Nokia handsets. I think this is same across other manufacturers too.

When your mobile is lost, ensure that you take a bit of time to have it reported to your network operator so that your mobile number or credit balance is not abused by the lifter. It also poses the following perils that accompany it:

The numbers in the phone book are now vulnerable for false information and may be called and cheated.

If you are subscribed to Banking Telephony or Credit Card Balance alerts, your fiscal information may be subject to untold risk at the hand of the lifter.

Good thing is that leading network operators have relaxed the condition of necessitating the producing of First Information Report (FIR) from Police, since FIRs take a significantly long time at least in Chennai and in most of the cases, one has to shell a lumpsum to get an FIR, though not official bill mostly the amount tendered would be under-table and if you refuse to satisfy the illegal gratification that is being solicited, you would need to return empty handed and may need to walk to and fro for at least a month to get an FIR.

I think, when we compare this to CDMA, CDMA scores high since when we report a mobile loss, the mobile is permanently deactivated since there is no SIM card and everything is configured by the network.

15 comments:

I have lodged a complaint regarding lost mobile via cop@vsnl.net. Should I have to send a copy to the cyber crime branch as per the URL mentioned in your article. Guide me if there are ways to get back my lost mobile

i have lost my mobile n73 music edition before 4 days it costs 15,000am very unhappy regarding it...i have the imei number also kindly give me chennai cyber crime no or kindly help me get back my lost mobile....pls this s my mail id:zamzamirufi@yahoo.com

i have lost my mobile nokia 6300 before 2 days it costs 7800 i am very unhappy regarding it...i have the imei number also kindly give me chennai cyber crime no or kindly help me get back my lost mobile....pls this My Email id:rpurshoth@gmail.com

have lost my mobile Nokia 6300 before 2 days it costs 7,800am very unhappy regarding it...i have the imei number also kindly give me chennai cyber crime no or kindly help me get back my lost mobile....pls this s my mail id:rpurshoth@gmail.com

Hello Sir,I have lost My mobile Nokia 6085 pink on 25/05/09.i got the same sim the next day.I have registered complaint and got the receipt at the nearest police station.i ahve also sent a emai lto cop@vsnl.net.with the details of my IMEI number. and my mobile number.Iwant to know whether i should send email to cybercrime.When i asked my service provider whether they can trace they told us to contact cyber crime if they get any request from cyber crime then they can trace.I am missing many details since i have kept my password and many information in my mobile.Is there any possibility of getting it Back.Details Name J SirishaModel And Make : Nokia 6085 pinkIMEI Number : 353228018147538Last used No : 9941327427Email address: sirishajayaraman2000@gmail.com

Hi on 28/7/09 around 9.10am my mobile was stolen in train in kodambakkam, chennai, tamil nadu. I have blocked the sim and raised a complaint in Egmore railway police by evening. I have given my imei no... kindly let me know how to get it back. its really worth for me... pls suggest

Hello sir,Good dayMY name is Bala,I hav lost my mobile phone an hour back in padi yadava street, nokia 5800 music express, IMEI NO 356910036709137,contat no:8903692929,9841792929. i have important contacts on my phone ..please do needfull..

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